Springtime Renewals

Violet Ker Seymer

In certain latitudes, the spring of the year is a time of renewing and discarding. Snow melts; emerald blades emerge in bog and meadow; slender leaves slant from sapfilled boughs, and birds lift their heads in song. Then housewives make a raid on the dust in their homes, and, very possibly, on outworn garments in their wardrobes.

Strange, though, how very seldom this raid includes renewing the set of books which, as Christian Scientists, we have had in use many years. Worn and torn and smudged though they may be, we keep on using them until we should be ashamed to pass them along as gifts or loans. Certain copies may be precious to us for good reasons, and it is natural that we should keep these. In other cases, however, would it be well for us to consider why we continue to use shabby books? The messages conveyed through these precious volumes come straight from the springs of Truth; they sweep away outworn material beliefs, fear, sickness, penury, sorrow, and bring us renewed assurances of health, happiness, and abundance. Then why allow the outworn appearance of our books to contradict the spirit of the messages they bring to us?

The human character also calls for constant renovation, renewed quickening by Truth's regenerative action. Here, too, there needs to be a discarding and a renewing. Are the purity, freshness, and vigor of Christian Science being welcome into every corner of our consciousness? "Spring is here!" our Leader writes, "and doors that closed on Christian Science in 'the long winter of our discontent,' are open flung" (Miscellaneous Writings, p. 332). Have we fully accepted Christian Science? The measure of our acceptance is the measure of our application of its teachings. Is our mental door "open flung" to this revelation, or is it merely ajar? Have our mental attics been cleared of rubbish stored there before we knew better? Is any old mental rubbish still stored there? Has even fresh rubbish been added? Have discordant and disturbing impressions been merely thrust into the background thence to exert their latent influence? Do sensitiveness, pride, and the old habit of taking offense startle us by their sudden reappearance under provocation? Do we surrender to discouragement when we should rise up with new courage?

Our Leader says (ibid., p. 330), "It is good to talk with our past hours, and learn what report they bear, and how they might have reported more spiritual growth." Dishonesty and apathy cannot rob us of spiritual progress and resilience unless we deliberately give them hospitality, and this we shall refuse to do as we follow the advice of Paul: "Be renewed in the spirit of your mind." In our work and our outlook we need to express spiritual inspiration and spontaneity. To this end we must faithfully deny the suggestion that inspiration fluctuates or is at times entirely absent. Spiritual inspiration is a living token of the presence of divine Love, and as such it is infinite and invariable as Love itself. Then if we would perpetually feel this inspiration, we must perpetually maintain a full, fresh, and joyous reflection of Love in our attitude toward ourselves as well as toward our fellow beings. We must exclude from our consciousness chilling disparagement, and cherish spiritual encouragement for one and all.

When Christian Scientists meet together they should gain fresh vision and faith in good. Yet, through failure to protect this precious intercourse, the depressing influence of mortal mind is allowed to intrude. Too often errors are wantonly rehearsed and failures deplored. Instead, statements of absolute Truth should be joyfully exchanged, and evidences of the healing power of Christian Science thankfully recounted. "Lie not one to another," Paul wrote to the Colossians, "seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him."

Flowers growing side by side lend variety of form, color, and scent to the beauty of the whole plot; they shed and share their fragrance. And friendly gardeners exchange attractive plants, not weeds. Then when Christian Scientists meet, let them share with one another fresh beauty, inspiration, and consecration, drawn from the one infinite source. In all their sacred and exacting ministry, let them remember to hold up each other's hands by rejoicing together in the affluence of Mind's ideas which quicken spirituality and waken fresh songs of gratitude in faithful hearts.

This renewing knowledge of God, of His perfect image and universe, counteracts the would-be retarding, stagnating, beclouding influence of mortal mind. In the infinite treasure house of spiritual understanding there is no inlet nor outlet for mental rubbish. Our mental door needs to be "open flung," and kept so. Then as the winds of God bring us constantly fresh vision, purity, and power, our lives will inevitably break forth into ever diviner beauty and wider fruitage. "With each returning year," our Leader says (ibid., p. 330), "higher joys, holier aims, a purer peace and diviner energy, should freshen the fragrance of being."

Violet Ker Seymer

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April 13, 1935

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